Shame, thewest.com.au – Shame!

I acknowledge from the outset that I am no fan of The West Australian newspaper. This rag has peddled blatant pro-conservative propaganda in the guise of an “Editorial” for as long as I can remember. Not to mention their “feature writers” like the big-headed, self-righteous arch-conservative foghorn, Paul Murray (although, one upside of having Murray around is this crack-up of a thread from local blog The Worst Of Perth).

Indeed, the anti-ALP bias of The West Australian was so extreme in the lead-up to the recent WA state election that in a post-victory interview, outgoing Lib Matt Birney was moved to chastise the West journos for carrying on a personal vendetta against ALP ministers who had raised their ire during the Carpenter reign. Birney is not known for handing the ALP any bouquets. Hats off to him for speaking up. It is some measure of the extremity of The West’s bias that he – a political beneficiary of their propaganda – should feel moved to speak out publicly as he did. Continue reading Shame, thewest.com.au – Shame!

‘Newcastle’ – Breaking Through the Surf Movie Genre (Movie Review)

I scored a free ticket to a preview of the surf movie, Newcastle. If I hadn’t, I would have missed a terrific ride – it’s not the sort of movie I’d usually rush to.

Just shows that genre stereotyping – like all stereotyping – can be a folly. Although all the definitive elements of the surf movie are there in abundance in Newcastle – screenfuls of young suntanned flesh, nocturnal beach parties with the obligatory dope, drink, dudes and babes, and of course, sensational surfing montages set to a pumpin’ musical backdrop – there’s a lot more going on. Continue reading ‘Newcastle’ – Breaking Through the Surf Movie Genre (Movie Review)

Mulch – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

I’m not gonna beat around the westringea here. You know that black mulch that costs more than any other? The stuff you see hastily piled into garden beds when a house goes on the market? Well, it’s crap.

Black mulchies will be taking on combat stances at this point. People don’t like having their assumptions challenged. Like, black mulch must be the best. It looks so dark and rich and fertile, and the pro gardeners use it, and the soil and garden centres recommend it, and it’s expensive.

That last point’s the clincher. Quality usually is directly proportional to price. You get what you pay for, right?

Right, but wrong in the case of mulch! Wrong wrong wrong! Continue reading Mulch – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

movie reviews + occasional other musings